Burning Questions For the 2025-26 Season: Carl Grundström

With the 2025-26 season now in sight, the plan is to address the burning questions surrounding every player on the roster (or competing for a roster spot). These questions are focused on how the player is expected to contribute to the Sharks this season and what their role will be.

Carl Grundström
6'0" 200lbs
27 years old
2016 2nd round pick

Last Season

56 games, 3 goals, 6 assists, 9:36 TOI

The San Jose Sharks traded for Carl Grundström before the 2024 NHL Draft. They sent defenseman Kyle Burroughs to the LA Kings in exchange for Grundström and signed him to a two-year deal worth $3.6 million ($1.8m AAV). Grunddström played bottom six minutes for the Sharks and was in and out of the lineup due to injuries and being a healthy scratch.

Grundström was solid defensively at 5 on 5 minutes, but didn't get much of an opportunity on the penalty kill, playing 7:13. While Grundström got similar shots on goals as he had in the previous seasons, his shooting percentage dropped to 3.4, way under his 9.3 career shooting percentage.

Burning Question

Is Grundström a lock to make the team?

While his contract is the 6th highest among forwards, it doesn't feel like Grundström is a lock to make the roster. The additions of Philipp Kurashev and especially Adam Gaudette (not to mention Michael Misa) might push Gaudette out of a guaranteed spot. If one of the youngsters, like Egor Afanasyev, cracks the roster as well, Grundström could be on the outside looking in.

If the Sharks were to waive Grundström to get him down to the AHL, the Sharks can bury $1.15 million of his $1.8 million contract and, more importantly, open up a roster slot. Successfully waiving Grundström could also make him a more desirable trade asset for another team. Even though they could get him for free off waivers, if Grundström goes through waivers unclaimed and then gets traded, it would give his new team the flexibility to put him down in the AHL without the worry of someone else grabbing him. If a team does grab Grundström off waivers, they have to put him on the NHL roster.

Expectations

Don't be surprised if Grundström is the casualty of the Sharks' roster crunch. They currently have 49 of 50 contracts, but once Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson hit their 10th NHL games, their contract go into effect. The Sharks need to move a contract if they want Dickinson and Misa in the NHL all season.

If Grundström stays, the Sharks will need more scoring from him in the bottom six. Can Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky roll out the same projected 4th line of Barclay Goodrow, Ty Dellandrea, and Grundström and expect better results than what we saw last season? Something has to change if the Sharks are to get better production this season.